Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method of controlling ultrasound imaging apparatus

Abstract

Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus including a probe and a method of controlling the ultrasound imaging apparatus. The method includes: comparing a signal value acquired through an input unit with first and second threshold values; and performing an operation that is determined based on a result of the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling an ultrasound imaging apparatus coupled to a probe, the method comprising steps of:
 (i) comparing, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, a signal value acquired through an input unit disposed on one side of the probe with first and second threshold values; 
 (ii) determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, a state of the input unit as one of a first state, a second state, and a third state classified by the first threshold value and second threshold value, based on a result of the comparison; 
 (iii) determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, an ultrasound image processing operation corresponding to a change in the state of the input unit, wherein the change in the state of the input unit includes a change from one state of the first, second, and third states to another state of the first, second, and third states; and 
 (iv) performing, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, the determined ultrasound image processing operation, 
 wherein the first threshold value is less than the second threshold value, and 
 wherein the determining of the ultrasound image processing operation comprises:
 determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit as the first state, the ultrasound image processing operation as acquiring an ultrasound image of an object by transmitting an ultrasound signal to the object by using the probe, and displaying the acquired ultrasound image, 
 determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the first state to the third state, the ultrasound image processing operation as stopping transmission of the ultrasound signal to the object by using the probe, and displaying an ultrasound image being displayed before the state changes from the first state to the second state as a still image, 
 determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the first state to the third state, the ultrasound image processing operation as storing an ultrasound image acquired through the probe as a moving image, and 
 determining, by the ultrasound imaging apparatus, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the second state to the third state, the ultrasound image processing operation as storing the displayed still image, 
 
 wherein the ultrasound imaging apparatus includes:
 a probe configured to acquire the signal value and 
 a controller configured to perform the steps (i) through (iv). 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the signal value acquired through the input unit with the first and second threshold values comprises acquiring a signal that is determined according to the magnitude of a pressure applied to the input unit. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound image processing operation is further determined based on a length of time during which the input unit remains the same. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the ultrasound image processing operation further comprises:
 upon determining that the state of the input unit is changed from the third state to the first state, controlling the ultrasound image processing operation to terminate the storing of the ultrasound image as the moving image. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the ultrasound image processing operation further comprises:
 upon determining that the state of the input unit is changed from the third state to the second state, controlling the ultrasound image processing operation to display the still image. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the signal value acquired through the input unit with the first and second threshold values comprises acquiring a signal that is determined according to a position of the input unit. 
     
     
       7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of  claim 1  on a computer. 
     
     
       8. An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:
 a probe having an input unit configured to acquire a signal value; 
 a controller including a memory communicatively connected to the controller, the controller configured to:
 determine a state of the input unit based on a result of comparing the signal value acquired through the input unit with first and second threshold values, 
 determine a state of the input unit as one of a first state, a second state, and a third state classified by the first threshold value and second threshold value, based on a result of the comparison, 
 determine an ultrasound image processing operation corresponding to a change in the state of the input unit, 
 
 wherein the change in the state of the input unit includes a change from one state of the first, second, and third states to another state of the first, second, and third states, 
 wherein the first threshold value is less than the second threshold value, and 
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine the ultrasound image processing operation, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit as the first state, as acquiring an ultrasound image of an object by transmitting an ultrasound signal to the object by using the probe, and displaying the acquired ultrasound image, 
 determine the ultrasound image processing operation, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the first state to the second state, as stopping transmission of the ultrasound signal to the object by using the probe, and display an ultrasound image being displayed before the state changes from the first state to the second state, 
 determine the ultrasound image processing operation, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the first state to the third state, as storing an ultrasound image acquired through the probe as a moving image, and 
 determine, corresponding to determining the state of the input unit is changed from the second state to the third state, the ultrasound image processing operation as storing the displayed still image. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the input unit acquires a signal that is determined according to the magnitude of a pressure applied to the input unit. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the ultrasound image processing operation based on a length of time during which the state of the input unit remains the same. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 upon determining that the state of the input unit is changed from the third state to the first state, control the ultrasound image processing operation to terminate the storing of the ultrasound image as the moving image. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 upon determining that the state of the input unit is changed from the third state to the second state, control the ultrasound image processing operation to display a still image. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the input unit acquires a signal that is determined according to a position of the input unit.